Snap-acting valve device



July 25, c c FARMER I SNAP ACTING VALVE DEVICE Filed Oct. 8, 1931 V INVENTOR.

CLYDE O. FARMER A TTORNEY.

miapj 'li'e'd' enlcar'avthe rearend of the Patented July 25, 1933 F "Iii:

ld "ill? 1- !i i "1 i" CLYDE C. FARMER, OF PITTSBURGH; PENNSXLVAN A, ASS GNOR TO THE WESTING- M QUSEAI 1 z i. ior rnnnsvnvAnrh 1 v l ffiiiiventionirelates to fluid "pressure ibiaksjarid' more parti'cularly toa pressure brake equipment 'fo'ri use on =a'caboose or of tram:-

"1 Withtlie increase iii' 'train' lengths, the dif 'ficultv er'agplyipg the brakes without cause'x'ces'sive s'ho'cks i,'d'ueto'therunning n of "the srecl'c'betweeri'ears, before th'e'brakes are iscorrespondinglyincreased; v

*t'bfore 'beeirpropo'sed't 'providemea s n the rear car or caboose forflocally' 'effecting a reduction ih-biakepipe pressure, in which the valve chamber ofthe brake' controlling valve deviceis-normally cut-'ofi' from the auxiliary reservoir and a valve mechanism is provided Which is -'op'erated up'on-a llght reductlon in M) brake pipe pressiire fdr opening communication fromjthe auxiliary'reservoir to the valve "chamber; so as to effect a 'positive movement of; the brake controlling valve device upon a reduction in bra'kepip'e pressure.

, One'o'bject-o'f my'invention is .to provide -an-improved valve mechanism of the above character which operates with a prompt, positive, and snap-like-action upon areduction in 'brakepipe pressurec I Another. objectof my; invention is to pro- !vide .aquicln acting valvemechanism for use generally .in :fiuid ipress'ure brake systems.

@- ln thezaccompanying drawing; Fig. l is a diagrammatic-view mainly in section of a -fluid pressure brake equipment embodying lily-invention; anclFigr2a detail view of a portion ofthe lever employed in the valve mechanism forcontrolling the supply of fluid fronn the auxiliary reservoir to the triple valve chamber.

As shown in the drawing, the fluid pressure brake equipment,,as-applicd to a caboose or rear ,carvof a traim may comprise a triple valve device 1, an equalizing discharge valve device 2 an expansion chamber or reservoir 3, a stabilizing reservoir-4, an equalizing reservoir S an auxiliary reservoir 6, a valve deviceji, 'a brake cylinder 8 and a brake pipe 9.? v I I The triple valve device 1, as shown in the drawing, may be of the t'vpein which the piston'makes fulltraverse in effecting a service application of 'thebrakes,- and comprises a casing having-a piston chamber 10 connected through apa'ssage 11, with the brake pipe 9 and containing a piston 12, and having a BAKE COMPANY, 0FWILMERDING,-BENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION snA p-Ac'rme i Z I If jAliplic a tibn ifileid October 83133;; sent 11 11 553399.

I 'va'lve chamber? 1'3 containing a main slide a stem'16. I p

The slide valve I l-may be provided with ii'iea'ns t o insure that the slide valve will be.

maintained on its seat at all times v such as a rocking pin 17-, engaging the slide valve and train,

bearing'o'n'af flexible diaphragm 18, which is subject on one sideto brake pipe pressure, "as supplied through passage 11,;and on *the "gpp'osite side to "the pressure valve chain- 'i" i 1' f" x "I ji The equalizing discharge valve device 2 may 'comprisjea'casing in'which there is mounted, inspaced relation to each other,

"flexibl'diaphrag'ms' 19 and 20 of equal area. Contained incha'mber '21'fintermediate' the 'diaphr'agm's 19' and 20 is aspacer member 22 which carries a discharge valve 23 adapted to "cooperate with a valve seat'provided'on a projecting portion 2 L of the casing. The' 'cham'ber 21 1 1s constantly connecte through passage 25 with the'brake pipe. The chamber 26 at' the'upper face of diaphragm 'lg i's connected, through a passage 27 with the equalizing reservoir '5, the passage '27 h avin a restriction 28. Connected tolpassage 2 at opposite sides of the'rest-riction 28 1s a passage 29 containing a check valve 30.

1 V Thechamber =31 at the under side of diaphragm 20 is connected through a passage 32 with the stabilizing reservoir 4, and passage 32 also leads to the seat of slide valve 14. A passage 33 containing a check valve 34, connects passage 32 with passage 25.

The valve device 7 is for the purpose of controllingthe supply of fluid under pressure from the auxiliary reservoir 6 to the valve chamber 13, while the triple valve device'is in releaseposition and a reduction in brakepipe pressure is effected and may comprise a casing in which a flexible diaphragm '35 is mounted Associated with the diaphragm is a 'stem 36 adapted to operate a slide valve 37 The chamber 38 at the upper face of the diaphragm is connected by passage 39 with brake pipe passage 11 and valve chamber 40 at the opposite'side of the diaphragm is connected to a passage 41 leading to the] auxiliary reservoir 6 and also to the seat of slide valve 14. i

The piston stem36 is urged upwardly by a movable member 42, acted upon by a coil spring 43. According to my invention, means IOU are provided forensuring the prompt, posit1ve,sandsnap like movement of the diaphragm and the valve 37 in either direc tion and for this purpose I provide a lever 44, pivotally mounted-in chamber 38 on a pin and having a bore at one end in whi ch is mounted an adjustable pin 46 adapted to engage the diaphragm assembly. i

The lever 44 is provided with a, slit 47, as shown in Fig. 2, crossing the bore of'the .pin 46 and a clamping bolt 48, having screwthreaded engagement in the lever, is provided .fornclampingthe split portions of thedever to the pin 46, when the pin has beeniadjusted to thevdesired position.- Y p Pivotally. mounted onaa pin. 49-in-. eham ber 38 is a member having ,an-armfio earrying a rol1er51 adapted to,engage the-upper face of the-lever .44. Said. member, is ,also

provided .with anarm352 .having-.,.a.-;guide member 53 pivotally connected {'lI-O its enter end. .Said guidemember is provided-at its outer end with a ball shaped portion 54iwhieh is guided in a bore 550i the-easing. -A coil spring 56. is interposed between, a collar '57 of; the member, v53 and the, casing; The Jf-ree end of the 1ever44 is adapted 'to en'gagey-a shoulder 58 provided on, the valve; casing,so ..as. to limit the downwardmovement; of the lever In operatiomwhen the-bralre'pipe 9 is sup plied with fluid under pressure, the, triple valve piston 12 isshifted to-itsrelease p'osition, as shown in Fig. 1. In release position,

fluid-under pressure supplied through-passage 11 to piston chamber 10 flows through the feed groove 59 around -piston 12 to valve chamber 13.

. Fluid underpressu-re also flowsfrdmthe brake pipe 9, through passage. 39 to-chambe'r 38 ofthewalve device 7,;and since there is .no fiuidpressure in the auxiliary reservoir position shown in Fig, 1, in which communication between the valve chamber. 13 an the valve chamber 40 is cut-01f;

Fluid under. pressure from the brake pipe also flows through passage 25 to the chamber 21 of theequalizing discharge valve device 2. With the mainslide valve 14 in release position, the brake cylinder-=8 is connected tothe atmosphere, through passage 62, cavity. 63 in slide valve 14 and'exhaust passage .64, and the expansion reservoir 3 isconnectedto .the atmosphere, through pas- .s'age 65,;bontaiiiing 'a 'choke with a restricted flow port 66, and a port 67 in slide valve 14, which opens into the exhaust cav- In release position *otth-trijfle valve parts, fluid under pressure fldw s 'frdm'piston chamber 10 through passage 68 and cavity 69 in slide valve 14 to passage 27, leading to chamber 26, an d' allsfi 'thiough cavity 69 to passage leadingio the .stahilizipg. gesenvoirdand ..,cha1 uber; 3l,-,helqwf the diaphragm. oi, the diseha rge (valve device 2,} Iliefloiv .of fluid to chamber 31 is restricted: the frestricte d "im a ei ui z a-.= 0 e lp i gt r l-pas lage' -buitd upamdiaphragipchamben 26 ata taster mate; then a in ,thegequalizing! reservoir 5,: and xdue-m {he nestrictedportgm the pressuieil 1diaphragm:chamberfihhuildsup at a slower ratewtham in:ehambe'rr.-. 26,-.As a. result, :duringi the changing period, the pressure, .in LChamben 26'i's always. highen than the pressure in" ichambr *31 and. consequently the 1 diaphragms l9 and '20 are ,suhj-ect ;to; a differacnt'ialupressure iw-hich Toperatesrou zthe (valve 23. to maintaini ther-v'alve seated, fth'us ipreventing; flowioffluid fromethe ibiiakei pipe to! :the .'atmosphere. an i -;;;t' 4'1 In order to eifect a semicerapplication-rof -the: brakes,"ia gradual ireduct-ion i-n-zbrake .pipe pressure is madedn the usual: manner." On cars at the front end-0t the train, 'thetriple valveswill be operated 'by the'reduction in brake pipe pressure to supply fluid-= under "pressure to the brake cylindefpbut on cars -'at-th"e rear of the-train,- the rate of reduction iirbrakepipe'pressure' may not in some casesbe sufficient to ca'useth'e triple val've' to move to service application position. When, however, the caboose or rear car of the-train is equipped with vmy apparatus, as hereinb'cfere described, if tl1'e brakepipe pressure is reducing at a slower than the service rate, fluid under pressure from the valve chamber 13 will flow to thetriple'valve piston chamber 10 th rough the feed groove 59." Inthis situation, fluid under pressure is prevented from flowing from the auxiliary reservoir 6 to the valve chamber 13 byfihe slide valve 36 of the valve device 7, so that a reduction in auxiliary reservoirpressure prevented. The pressure, however,-in,chan 1- ber 38. of saidvalve device. (which iscon- ,uected to the'.brake pipe),redrices with .the brake pipe, while theauxiliary reservoir pres- 1-: sure inz valve chamber A 101i the oppositeside' 1 of diaphragm 35, remains "undisturbed? I .1; When the pressure iircha mber. 38'ihas been" .1: 2 Th? fluid prssi ire :iir' chamber '31 and.- the stabilizing reservoir at reduces Withthe-brake i pipe, by flow fromi passage. 32,- through paswi'edn'ced a small predetermined'(amount;:suchr isage 33-, 'pastltheloheok-valvei341 300 passage i asftwo' ipo'unds, -for exampleythe 'diaphragrii wiil'inoiie upwardly; also 'm'ovin g ille lever B l 14.4% The illlOVGll-"lfilltkbf :lever 14 starts lh'ovelment of the'roller-filion' the hppen surfabe ofr; ith'e-l everu44; causing; a rockin g gofi'th armsi- 10 1 50 andififl and abompressibnrof'the spring 56;

spring 56' -r is iricreas'ed at a gfaster rate'i than l i the COIHPBGSSIOII force 10f? the spring/ 565: 1n-

1h.:thevlrol'ler. -51; efl'ectiyelforce itending to I move :the: diaphragm? incheasesiri !A r lpi'ompt;

positive and snapdike lnowementiof the'r dia- 'tphr-agm 1 35. l is thus 7.: assured, i although the; l lth ughout; the i-triaingand :brake gaipe pressure rrfaylberreducingbatfithe 1. t rea endof the trail! at 'azslowi r atelld w o m 2' iTh 1' upward L movemeht; rof .tlieediaphragm '35 causes the slide'valveiiifietp be 'orresfiondg 2 inglyirnove'cl tovapositimll, in' whibh the pass a sage 61'=is uiicoveredhy the-slide valve: 1 Fluid under 'pressu-re is them smppli'ecl fiioin valve 1 to:

charhber '40 anil ithexaiixilialryzd'eserivoir 6 to '1 w the-valve chamber: at; "a considera'blyf faster Q--'-?rate' than j fluid can flow from walv'erehaniber 13 through ifeed groove 591110 pistonweha-mber O,- .sonthat; the i piress are in: valve chamber 13 r is;iiiereasetlesuihcientlyrto causerthel w --rnent ofigradliatingrvalvh;15,;so'as to unover; tl1e=serv1ce iportn ifiw 1n 2 the niain E sliderivalve i ip'ipei and 1 in chamber r31-reduce's to a; point 'rslightl'yv' belownthe pressure: at ,which: the equalizing! reservoirl equalizesinto: the; ex- Ppan'sion' reservoir ,Spthe :equalizedi :pressure and 2,0 to clbse the valve 23 {a nd thus out ofithe rstlle lei erageratiojofirthiforbes hating-on ;the 1"lfurthei;:vehtilngiofzfiuid :frolh the bI kQP P 2 Wiheii the F discharge valve; device 2, operates as above describedgthe: brake pipepres- :npipeipressure is'induced satthejihead end of the train; thus;insuring-aiinore,nearly simultaneous reduction ;brake;-;'pip.e;i ,pressure :a-consequentmore -'ulniformrbrakingactionni; 1M5 r: When the slide valve 14 ;is} in service posin ztibngwcavityelfifi 4 lismonnepted lto; an atmosn iphericiexhaus't 1;];i01'b32l5 i so that; thevalve 14 "new i is; subjectedto;anrunbalanqed fluid pressure pressur'em ,1

i zfl orelease; thcubniikes, the; brake pip v pressure is inoi'eas'ediin-th'e.usual manner, causing '32 the apparatusito be recha-rgedwith flui d under 1;; 1 Ipres'sure and t'ofloperate tgijconnect the brake 3 -1- ,Movement ofg piston mzfirst(oausesemqve-wcylindernand the expansion reSQ Y T-.= 0

atmosphere, Ein fiche ea-me {mannen as described 71in connection-I rw1th tl1e 1p1t al' charging, of

in 14:1 Th6 mainslidewalwe 144s therhshifted irtheapparatusii "an'iii r to serviceposition iniwhichiportiffi rregisters. "with: passagea62m 5 :Slightly in advanceiofsthe registration of port 74:1 iwith passage 62',--the passage-416s'iincoveredzbyzthe. movement of m- W'hen'the brafliepiperessiu'e-is iiioreased ;.=-in releasing;theqbralgegith fl id pressure chamber a 38; of the valve device -7 ,is; corre- E ispondingly t. increased: and when the .dia-

the. main slide valve 14"S thatthe auxiliaryphragm 35 -staritsn-to; move downwai'dly f rom 1" 'In'serviceposit-ion,=fl1'1idnunderi pressurev is thus supplied from the auxiliary: reservoir '6 to the brake cylinder .8, throughpassage 62 Also-in service position; cavity 71 in slide, valve =14; (connects passage" with passage 27, so that the expansion reservoirs3'is cone,

'- 'nected to'thezequalizing reservoir-5 mid to the 5 chamber=26 of'the dischargevalve'device 2'."

The pressure in the chamber-'26: and iir the equalizing reservoir 5is Walrus reduced "by .flow to'the" expansion chamber? so that the" pres surein chamber 31 and the stabilizingreservoir 4 operates'to shift the diaphragrns '19 and 20 upwardly; so that the discharge valve 23 istuns eated, permitting. the Venting.

'Of fluidun'der pressure -front. chamber 21 and the brake pipe to atmosphricerlhaust 65 passage72.- 'I

{f itsluppermostpositionand the roller.5l is 25; so that.- wheir'the pressure ilIli the brakeflmovetl by spring 5.6 toward the leift on the le 3 ver 44. The leverage ratio decreusesat faster rate than the ,foroe-of the spring 56 de creases, sothat vthe efiective force-tending to move the.:diaplhaginLdownwardly progress- .postivedownward-'7, .mwe nent. o'fw p agm 35is eflfeoted I 4 :{In this movement, the valve- 37 is moved, so that port registers withpassage 61, ,pe1'- the dia- ,,voir ironi the valvechamber 13, as hereinnbefore describedmy- I v The apparatusghas been described with the triple. .valvedevice 1 pneratingto supply j fluid under pressluze to thebrake cylinder to efi'ect a service application of the brakes. It '5 will be seen hpwever that th egapparatus may be. applied'to avqaboose or rear car, having ...the usualfluid pressurebralge .equipmeht, in-

l'nittingithe reeharge ofi the auxiliary resew- 3?? sive'ly, increases, with the result that, a prompt =i he sua t i le e Ye-ds' 'i a wt 9 1) ti'ollingithe supply of fluid tofthe brake cylinderm v i I In this case, the triple-valve device .1 of my apparatusmay be em'ployed merely to-efi'ect 1 a recluctlon m brake pipe pressure, the usualq-posingthe movement of'isaidzabutmenhand triple valve device operating to control the pressure in the brake cylinder; iWhen, as in the above case, the brake-cylinder is not attached to my apparatus, a chamber or dummy brake cylinder should be substituted for the usual brake cylinder, so that the triple valve device 1 of my apparatus will operate: the

'- same as though theusual brake cylinder were associated therewith. 1

"ters-Patenhisz- I *th-e'appended claims. Having now described mylinvention, what While one illustrativeembodiinent the invention has been described in detaiLzit is not my intention to limit its scope to that em bodiment' or otherwisethan the terms of I claim as new and desiretoisecure by Let- 1. In a fluid pressure brake,* the combina tion with a brake ipe, of a brake controlling valve device sub]eet to the dpposing-.pressures of the'brakepipe and .al chambei', a normally charged reservoir, i'avalve 'mech anism ope'rated 'upon a predetermined "reduction in brake pipe pressure ior'supplying fluid under pressure from said reservoir to said chamber, and means for accelerating the action of said valvemechanism.

' 2. In a fluid pressure brake, the combination with a brake pipe, of a brake controlling valve device subject to the opposing pressures of the brake pipe and a chamber, a normally charged reservoir, and fa valve (:mally charged reservoir, a valve mechanism operated upon a reduction in brake pipe pressure for supplying fluid under pressure from said reservoir to saidxchamber, a spring 01)- means operating to reduce the force with which thespring opposes movement of said abutment, as the abutment moves. '5 K 5 A quick acting.,-valve mechanism :for fluid pressure: brake systems comprisinga movable abutment subject to the iopposing pressures in chambers'at opposite'side's thereone valve operated by'said abutment upon a'meduction-in fluidressure in one of'said .chambers,ca spring or opposing movement ;of said abutment,- a memberoperatively-connected toasaid'spring, and afleve'r through gmhich said member transmits the pressure of p g 'saidiabutment 6.'A quick acting-valve mechanism for fluid pressure-brake systems comprising a movable. abutment fsubject to the opposing pressures chambers at opposite sides thereof, a valve operated' by-s'aid abutment upon a reduction in fluidlpressurein one of said f chambers, a spring for opposing movement of said abutment; a :member operatively connected to said spring, and a lever through which 'said member transmits the pressure of the spring to said abutment, :said member being disposed at an angle to said lever.-

a 7. A quickacting valve mechanism: for

fluid pressure brake 'systems oompris'ing a movable abutment-subject :to the opposing pressures in chambers at opposite sides there mechanism for controlling the supplyrot fluid chambers, a springl for movement of under' pressure from said reservoir to said' isald abutmentf-a- Fmember 'operatively conchamber, comprising a"fmovable w abutment subject to the opposing pressures-of I the brake pipe and said reservoir and aslide X nected to said spring; 'and'alever movable with saidabutment; on which said member has sliding engagement, whereby the lever valve t d b id b t t, upon i r ratio is varied as saidabutment-and thereby chamber.

3. In a fluid pressure brake, the combination with a brake pipe, of a brake controlling valve device subject to the opposing pressures of the brake pipe and a chamber, a normally charged reservoir, and a Valve mechanism for controlling the supply of fluid under pressure from said reservoir to said chamber, comprising a movable abut ment subject to the opposing pressures of the brake pipe and said reservoir and aslide valve controlling the only communication between the reservoir and the chamber and operated by said abutment upon a reduction in brake pipe pressure to open said communication.

4. In a fluid pressure brake,. the combination with a brake pipe, of a brake controlling valve device subject to the opposing pressures of the brakepipe and a chamber, a nor- 'said lever is moved.

valve, a movable abutment operated-upon a reduction in fluid pressure for operating said valve, a lever movable with said abutment, a member engaging said lever, the engaging point of which is shifted as the abutment moves said lever, and a spring for opposing movement of said member;

' 9. A quick acting valve mechanismfor fluid pressure brake systems comprising a valve, a movable-abutment operated upon a reduction in fluid pressure for operating said valve, a lever movable with said abutment, a member engaging said lever, said member being moved by said lever upon movement of the abutment, so that the point of engagement of said lever-with said member is shifted, and aspring for opposing movement of said member.

CLYDE C. FARMER.

8.- A quick acting valve -mechanism for fluid ipr'emure brake systems comprising a 

